"Kim told friends that doctors warned her she was likely to need a C-section. She can technically still have a natural birth, but they told her the baby was large and sitting in a way that applied pressure," says a source.

The source adds, "While Kim's told Kanye that a C-section is what she wants, he'd prefer she did not have one. He wants an all-natural birth. But Kim feels like it's her right to choose."

Other sources add that Kim was telling girlfriends at her baby shower that she's scared of giving birth and how much it will hurt.

But friends of the couple say that Kanye's worry stems from losing his mom to complications from elective surgeries -- "He doesn't want any unnecessary risk. As far as he's concerned, surgery equals more danger."